Vice President

The Vice President, Global Transportation is responsible for overseeing and optimizing the organization’s global transportation operations, with a special focus on ocean freight, drayage, inbound freight, outbound freight, and parcel freight. This role requires a strategic leader who can manage the complexities of a global supply chain, ensuring efficient, cost-effective, and compliant movement of goods across various modes of transportation. The VP will lead efforts to improve service levels, reduce costs, and enhance overall supply chain performance while working closely with cross-functional teams to align transportation strategies with broader business objectives.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement a global transportation strategy encompassing ocean freight, drayage, inbound and outbound domestic freight, and parcel services.
• Identify opportunities to optimize transportation routes and modes, reduce costs, and improve delivery times across all freight categories.
• Lead innovation initiatives within transportation processes, including the adoption of new technologies and systems across all freight types.

Operational Management:

• Oversee the daily global transportation operations, ensuring efficient and timely movement of goods via ocean freight, drayage, inbound, outbound, and parcel logistics.
• Manage the complexities of international and domestic logistics, including customs, compliance, port operations, and last-mile delivery.
• Monitor and analyze transportation metrics, KPIs, and reports for all freight categories, ensuring performance meets or exceeds company standards.
• Manage 3PL performance and support domestic fulfillment, as needed/assigned (e.g. monitor and manage warehouse inbound/outbound execution, provide on-site leadership support, monitor and manage fulfillment KPIs).

Vendor and Carrier Management:

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with carriers, shipping lines, drayage providers, parcel services, and other logistics partners (including domestic 3PL’s).
• Negotiate contracts and service agreements across all transportation modes, ensuring competitive pricing and reliable service.
• Implement and manage tender processes for each freight category to secure optimal terms and performance.
• Support/lead warehousing vendor selection and contract negotiation, as needed/assigned.

Financial Oversight:

• Develop and manage the global transportation budget, in partnership with Finance and other stakeholders, focusing on cost control and financial efficiency across all freight categories.
• Analyze transportation costs and implement strategies to reduce expenses while maintaining high service standards across ocean, drayage, inbound, outbound, and parcel freight.
• Report on financial performance, including cost variances and savings initiatives specific to each mode of transportation.
• Manage domestic Distribution and Delivery expenses, in partnership with Finance and other stakeholders, as needed.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure all transportation activities comply with international and local regulations, including safety, environmental, and trade laws across all freight types.
• Develop and implement risk management strategies to mitigate potential disruptions, such as port strikes, shipping delays, or last-mile challenges.
• Lead sustainability initiatives within the transportation network, focusing on reducing environmental impact across all modes of transportation.

Team Leadership:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a global team of transportation and logistics professionals specializing in various freight categories.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and high performance within the transportation team.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration across different regions and departments involved in transportation.

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including procurement, planning, supply chain, and sales teams, to ensure alignment of transportation strategies with business needs across all freight categories.
• Communicate effectively with senior leadership, providing updates on transportation initiatives, challenges, and opportunities.

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in global transportation, logistics, warehousing, and supply chain management, with extensive experience in ocean freight, drayage, inbound and outbound freight, and parcel services.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful global transportation strategies across multiple freight categories.
• Strong understanding of international trade regulations, customs processes, and compliance requirements for various modes of transportation.
• Exceptional negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills across transportation and logistics.
• Experience with transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS) and other logistics technologies.
• Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience across supply chain functions (procurement, warehousing, transportation, planning) and within various industries, including CPG/FMCG.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Travel Required - up to 30%
• Flexible work schedule to accommodate virtual meetings with other regions/time zones